Linking academics to UN policy
agencies (& vice versa) in a
gender equality agenda
Amelita King Dejardin
Policy Integration Department
ILO Geneva
Some basics about “decent
work for all”
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“Decent work” sums up goals of ILO since
1919 and people’s aspiration in work
Universal – encompasses all forms of work,
paid and unpaid, productive and reproductive
Relativity of goal (forever progressing and
adjusting) but fundamental principles and
rights at work as “social floor”
Interconnections between elements and
aspirations of work = calls for integrated
framework
… and gender equality
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Gender equality integral to Decent
Work concept; cannot achieve DW
without freedom from discrimination
and equality of rights
Conventions 100, 111 – fundamental
conventions on freedom from
discrimination and principle of equality
Notions of equality in
employment & occupation
Discrimination in employment & occupation “Any
distinction, exclusion or preference made on the basis of
race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national
extraction, social origin, which has the effect of nullifying
or impairing equality of opportunity and treatment in
employment and occupation” (art.1, Convention 111)
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Procedural equality (equal treatment)
Equality of opportunity (rights and access)
Equality of outcomes
Problem of measurement &
indicators
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DW indicators - highly debated,
contested by tripartite constituents
« shrinking effect » of indicators
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DW dimensions: employment relatively
more developed
Gender equality: employment aspect
relatively more developed
Role of research in ILO
Research-policy-politics
 Engagement
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Diverse range of issues in multiple policy areas =
enormous needs for information and knowledge
Origin of needs: not only ILO Office but also
tripartite constituencies
Policy debate, Policy advocacy, Standards setting:
credibility of policy advice & advocacy depends on
quality of analysis and information
Linking academics & UN
agencies - Modalities
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External consultancies under
subcontractual arrangements (widely
used): to undertake studies, give expert
advice, write working papers
Seminars and forums – bringing
together ILO & external experts
(relatively frequently used)
more modalities …
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Internships
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Institution-based, part of university degree
programme (e.g. Cornell)
Internship leading to thesis (e.g. MA Stat)
Individually negotiated - more selective,
targeted, need/output based (e.g.
Integration dept)
more modalities …
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Education/training route
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University-level degree courses –
development and teaching of courses or
modules
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Social Security dept with Masstrict and
Lausanne universities
ACTRAV – Global Labour Universtity
Employment Intensive Investment dept with
Delft universities & networks of universities in
Africa and Asia-Pacific
more modalities…
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Support to academic & research
networks (knowledge sharing; possibly
generation of common agenda)
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International Industrial Relations
Association
International Association for labour Law
and Social Security
Economists for Full Employment
more modalities…
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Research review and agenda-setting
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Examples:
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Research workshop on gender in May 2007 to
assess research activities and gaps and identify
research priorities
Review of ILO research on informal economy
from gender perspective in Oct-Nov 2007
more modalities…
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Joint research project/product of ILO
and external experts
Job evaluation method free from gender biases (DECLARATION & M-T Chicha,
University of Montreal)
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Development of method and guide
Testing in a pilot project
Training
INTEGRATION’s “global product” for 2008-09 on inequality and labour markets
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One theme
Partnerships among HQ and Field office experts, and external researchers based on
each one’s research work
Exchange & sharing of perspectives and methods in a seminar
Joint publication